Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2026 - IAT 312 D100

Foundations of Game Design (4)

Class Number: 3907

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 11 – Aug 10, 2026: Fri, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Surrey

  • Prerequisites:

    Completion of 48 units, including IAT 265 with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Examines the discipline of game design. Games are studied across three analytical frameworks: games as rules (formal system), games as play (experiential system), games as culture (social system). Includes analytical and practical exercises in game design.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Description

This course examines the discipline of game design through three analytical frameworks:

  • Games as Rules (formal systems)
  • Games as Play (experiential systems)
  • Games as Culture (social systems)

Students will engage in both analytical and practical work. Through readings, discussions, critiques, and iterative design exercises, the course bridges theory and hands-on creation.

Game design is a creative endeavor that requires practice, reflection, and iteration. In lectures, we will explore key scholarship on players, games, and design processes to establish a shared conceptual foundation. Topics include universal game mechanisms—such as randomness, economic systems, reward structures, player motivation, and psychology—alongside focused explorations of selected design challenges.

In labs and studio sessions, students will play, critique, refine, and design games. Studio time will be dedicated to prototyping, playtesting, structured feedback, and development of longer-term design projects.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Course Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students will develop practical experience and critical understanding of:

  • Theories of player psychology and their influence on design and player experience
  • The game design process, including ideation, prototyping, playtesting, and iteration
  • Analytical dimensions of game critique, including art direction, narrative, mechanics, and balance
  • Design mechanisms such as reward systems, economic systems, and motivational structures
  • Collaborative design practices and reflective evaluation of design decisions

Grading

  • Assignments (individual) 30%
  • Projects (team work) 37%
  • Quizzes 15 15%
  • Lec Participations 10%
  • Lab Participations 8%

NOTES:

Welcome to IAT 312.

This semester, the course operates as a collaborative, agile indie game studio. You will experience what it means to work as part of a professional design team, creating meaningful and socially engaging games — in both digital and analogue formats.

There is no TA assigned this semester. Creative ownership and responsibility therefore rest directly with you. Through structured agile sprints, teams will prototype rapidly, test frequently, and iterate meaningfully. You will regularly give and receive constructive peer feedback, developing both your design work and your ability to communicate professionally.

Professional skills emphasized in this course include:

  • Agile project management
  • Collaborative teamwork
  • Constructive critique and communication
  • Reflective design practice
  • Critical thinking and responsible use of AI tools as design collaborators

By the end of the semester, you will have developed innovative game projects and a professional-quality portfolio demonstrating your growth as designers and collaborators. Together, we will cultivate a supportive studio culture grounded in curiosity, experimentation, and meaningful play.

In this course context, you'll have holistic opportunities to learn by handson both digital games and board games. Below is the stucture of the deliverables that you are expected to complete.

  • 3 individual assignments: one about BrainHex test for player archetypes and two game critique assignments based on concepts covered in the lecture
  • 3 group projects: 2 digital game design projects, and one board game design projects
  • Quizzes: there will be three quizzes examine periodically your understanding of game design theories and their applications 
  • Lecture Participation:  via group presentations (based on readings and questions), in-lecture Q&A contributions, and attendance
  • Lab participation: done through participation in lab activities, questions and contributions, and attendance

Academic Honesty

Students are expected to follow SFU's code of academic honesty. We are required to forward all suspected cases of academic misconduct to the Director of SIAT, the Chair of Undergraduate Studies and the Dean of Students, where they will be pursued to resolution. This is a very unpleasant process for all involved, so please do not put us in this situation.

REQUIREMENTS:

Course Policies

Attendance and Participation

Regular attendance and active participation in lectures and labs are required to pass the course. Game design is inherently collaborative; meaningful participation in team and studio activities is essential.

Failure to:

  • Contribute adequately to in-class activities
  • Complete assigned responsibilities in team projects
  • Attend team meetings reliably
  • Participate constructively in critiques

may result in grade reductions, including adjustments based on peer evaluations.

Deliverables

All assignments must be submitted via Canvas by the specified deadline.
Late submissions will not be accepted.

All required readings (beyond textbooks) will be provided via Canvas or linked in the course schedule. Students are expected to complete assigned readings and prepare responses to reading questions.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Required Materials: beyond the textbooks, all other required reading materials will be provided via either Canvas or URLsspecified in schedule table below. It is mandatory to read these required materials, and answer those reading questions.

REQUIRED READING:

Adams, E. (2013). Fundamentals of Game Design (3rd ed.). Berkeley, CA: New Riders. 


ISBN: 9780321929679

RECOMMENDED READING:

"Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals" (2003) by Katie Salen Tekinbas, Eric Zimmerman; 1st Edition; MIT Press – is not required for this class, but might offer interesting additional perspectives and is available as a physical book through the SFU Library
ISBN: 9780262240451

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.